Athletic apparatus



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Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

- uNrrEDl STAT-ss;

`ROBER'I S. BLAIR, OF STANFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Va'rHLnrrIo ArrARArUs.

Application filed March 22, 18.24. Serial No. 701,@1. j

This invention relates to v athletic apparatus `and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to such athletic apparatus as punching bags and the like.l

@ne of the objects of the inventionfls to provide a construction oi" the above nat-ure practical and e'liicient and capable of meet-Y ing the requirements oi: use in ahlghly satisfactory manner. Another object isto provide apparatus of the above nature which 1s simply made and inexpensive. Another object is to provide such apparatus strong and durable and capable of aiording long continued service. j obvious or in part. pointed out hereinafter.

The invent-ion accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinationsofelement-s, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplihed in the structure to be hereinafter described andthe scope of the vapplication oi which will be indicated inthefollowing` claims. e K

In the accompanying drawing lin which are shown one or more various possible e1nbodiments of the several features of this invention, i

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a punching bag7 certain parts being cut away to better 4 disclose the structure. i

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure l. j

Figure 3 shows a portion 'of the apparatus of Figure 1 in" collapsed position.

Figure 4 is a slightly modiiied form of cer-v tain parts shown in Figure 1', and

Figure 5 shows in section a modified form of punching bag.

Similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the. several views ofthe drawing. il y y Referring now to the drawing 1n detail with reference iirst to F ivure 1 there is shown suspended from any suitable support l0 a bag having resilient characteristics and in this instance taking the form of a punching bag. It may be here noted that the term bag7 as employed herein, is to be interpreted broadly .throughout to comprehend various devices in the nature of a resilientball or bag employed as athletic apparatus This bag, as shown in Figure 1, comprises an inner supporting frame preferably formed of a plurality of resilient'ribs 11, this inner frame being covered by van outer casingy 12 of some Other objects will be in part.

.first split suitable material,A such vas leather or `heavy fabric. The ribs 11 in order to lfo1m.,tl1e

supporting frame of the` desired rounded contour Vare connected together at their ends and arch outwardly therebetween inthe desired shape. Preferably these ribs 11 areofl metal such as a suitable spring steel and are formed andfheld-in the desired outwardly.

manner which will now curved positions in a be described.

' The ribs 11 merge at their upperk ends in al tubularpart 13 andk at. their lower ends in a tubular part 14,the part' 13 being preferably formed in two halves'13a`and 13b, .and the part14being formed in two halves 14 and 14h. As viewed in Figure 1 therefore thev right-hand half of the ribs lljoinl the part-s 131 and 14aand theleft-ha'nd half of the ribs 11v join ,theparts 13b-and 14h.- The frame i es worky therefore comprises two sections which' are held together by the rivet` 15 through the tubular part 13 Vand by t 16 passing throughthe tubular part 14. The complete frame workis preferably made from a single tubularmeinber of y'rnetal having the desired resilient properties as .above described. A tube, Substantially of they size indicated by the tubular 'parts 13 and 14, is ongitudinally into two halves;

assing e rivet thereupon the ribs 11 areformed by longitudinally slitting the metal of .eachhalf between points adjacent their ends, leaving the tubular end port-ions 13 and 14. The frame work is shown incollapsed position in F ig:

ure 3 and its construction may be -better y i realized by reference to this figure. After the formation of the ribs 11 by slitting the metal of the tube, the two halves are placed together and secured by the rivets 15 and 16.

Connected to the rivet 15 is a rod lextending downwardly toward the center of the frame vwork and terminating in a hook 18. Connected to the rivet 16 is a rod 19 extend-` ing /upwardly'within the frame work and` terminating 1n a hook 20. By forcingtheV twov tubular parts 13 andV 14 toward each otheiytlie ribs 11 are sprung outwardly and the engagement of the hooks 18 and 20,.-as

.shown in Figure 1 holds the parts inv this position. The metal of the ribs 11 may be suitably weakened at the necessary. pointsL to cause the ribs to assume the desired oontour when they are thus distorted or sprungY i outwardly. The frame work may be col- 4indicated in Fig. 1 to insure its being at all times drawn tightly'around the frame work,

i Preferably, reinforcing means are provided for the ribs of the-frame work, taking the form of a transverse member extending around the inside of the ribs adjacent the middle of the bag or at that portion thereof where its 'diameter is the greatest. Preferably two such members as shown at 21 and 22 respectively are provided, each extending half way around theframe and meeting at their ends. These members 21and 22 are preferably of spring steel and at their central portions are pivoted to one of the ribs 11,` as indicated atr23 and 24. Before the bag is collapsed these members are swung around their pivots out of transverse position and the bag may then be collapsed, vthe members 21 and 22 straightening out andv assuming a position such as shownin dotted lines in Figure 3. It will be seen that a bag constructed as above described, is one which attains many practical advantages. 1t is springy and resilient and well adapted to meet the requirementsof a punching bag or similar device employed as athletic appa.` ratus.l It is easily made and inexpensive and capable of affording almost unlimited service without wearing out. being formed from a tubular member are curved on their outer surfaces as brought out in Figure 2 so that they present no sharp corners to cut into the leather or fabric. The bag is also easily collapsed and distended for convenient manipulation.

i The bag employed as a punching bag may be suspended in any desired manner, but preferably it is suspended as shown in Figure 1. The two halves of the' tubular part 13 extending upwardly are formed into flatr spring members 25 and 26 which rest together' as shown. The ,upper ends of these springs 25 and 26 are shaped to provide laterally extending portions 25a and 26a and overlapping ianges 251* and 2Gb. Secured tothe support is a bracket27 in which is supported a vertical pin 28. The pin 23 passes'through the flanges 26n and 25W and rotatably supports the springs and 2G and the punching bag. This suspension by u the pin 28 is therefore similarto as caster mounting. The bag, when-it is struck, will swing about the pin 28 so that the lateral parts 2521 and 26a are in line with the di- '.rectionof the blow. The force of theblow The ribs 11.

teaseuse.v

is taken up by the spring 25-26 and the pivotal mounting causes the spring to vso position 'itself at each blow that it is flatwise with respect to the direction of the blow. At each blow therefore the spring 25-26 stores up the energy of the blow in flat-wise bending and expends this energyl inreturning the bag. rl`he springs 25 and 26 with their upper bent portions, the tubular parts 13 and '14 and the ribs'11 may all` be formed fromv one tubular member of spring steel longitudinally divided Vas above described and split to form the ribs 11. The whole apparatus is therefore very conveniently made. y

l' Passing through the spring members 25 and 26 isa bolt 29 provided with a wing nut 30 and underneath the Yhead of this boltV 23 is clamped a slotted metal member L)1: rl`his member 31 may therefore be moved up or down the spring and clamped in any posiion so that the stiffness of the spring is regulated thereby: llf desired, instead of the slotted member 31, an arched member 32, as shownv in Figure 4, may be employed.- As this member 32 is iiattened by tighteraningv the thumb nut 30 its ends move along the spring 25--26 increasing the stiffness there-V of.n In this manner the opposition to blows against the punching bag may be conven-V iently adjusted.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a modiiied form Vof punching bag. The bag it'selfcomprises an inner frame made from a tubular metal member substantially as above described being provided with tubular end portions 33 and 34 and outwardly arching ribs 35 formed by slitting the tube, to-V gether with the outer covering 36.` .The bag 'in this instance is adapted, whenV struck,

vpivotally suspended. The Vbag is mounted as will presently be'described upon a rod 37 which is pivoted adjacent its upperfend by a lateral pin 38, to' an l shaped'member 39. The member 39 is pivoted about a'vertical pin 40 secured to ajplate 41 which is'in turn secured to the supporty 10. The lateral pivot 38 and the vertical pivot 40 thus provide substantially a universal suspension Vfor the rod 37 and the bag thereon. The member 39l will swing about the pin 40 so that its lateral arm is substantially in line with the blow each time the ball is struck.

rlhe rod 37- extends downwardly through the bag, projecting from the bottom thereof. Y The tubular parts 33 and 34 are preferably provided with bushings 42 and 43 which tit slidably upon the rod 37. 1 The lower end of the rod 37 isthreaded and a lnut 44thereon holds the bag from slipping 'downwardly.l Extending through the upper tubularpart 33 and the bushing 42 is a set screw 45, the end of which'engages the rod 37. The bag lbody may be struck without causing any pressure on the axis passing throughv the pointv of suspension. The center of percussion of a homogeneous rod suspended-at its upper end is positioned two-thirds the length or the rod from the point of suspension. rIllieretore, if the rod 37 were of a uniform size 'and homogeneous throughout itsvlength, its center ot' percussion would be substantially two-thirds its length from the pivot 38, and the parts are preferably so proportioned that this pointwould be in the vicin- .ity` ot the center of the punching bag. The

weight of' the bag causesthe center of percussion ot the rod and bag to be. higher than that ot the rod 37 alone. The rod 37 is preierably reduced in diameter inside the bag in order to compensate :tor this to some extent, In order to bring thecenter of percussion substantially to the center of the bag or to the point thereon at which the blows are applied, a weight 45 is threaded upon the lower end ot' the rOdBI. The weight 45 `is therefore `adjustable*up and down along' the rod 37 and may be locked in lany position by the lock nuts 46. The weight 45 serves to lower the center of percussion which, by proper adyustment of the Weight, may be Y fixed at substantially the point where the blows are applied to the'punching bag. With the center of percussion so fixed, the

striking of rthe bag causes substantially no pressure upon the pin 38, which is thepoint of suspension. i. The noise and vibration ordinarily caused by operating a punching bag may be thus greatly reduced. Furthermore,

the suspension pin '38 `may be made very light sincey there will be yvery little strain thereon as the bag is struck and swings upwardly to the supportlO, A Y

Iiiom the above it will be seen that there is herein provided an apparatus which embodies the features of this invention, attains the objects thereof and is well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use.V

As many possible embodiments maybe vmade of the above invention andas many changes might be made in the embodiment above set torth,it is to be understood that all matter liereinbefore setforth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. K y

I claim as my invention:

l. In athletic apparatus,l in combination,

a bag compri-sing a plurality of resilient ribs connected together adjacent their ends and shaped and connected to permit them to be distendedoutwardly intermediate said ends to form a collapsible frame-work, releasable mea-iis formed and connected'to hold said tramefwor'k in distended form with said ribs outwardly bowed, and pivoted means rein- :forcing`r the distended' portions'ofsaid ribs and adapted to permit the Collapsel of said frame-work. Y

- 2. In athletic apparatus, in combination, a collapsible Vresilient frame-work the members of which'areconnected and positioned to move apart as their opposite ends are brought-towardone another and adapted to bel expanded into approximately 'spherical form,supporting ymeans for said frame-work comprising a'spring and connected to said frame-work and `adapted to permit it to f swing about an exterior axis, and releasable means connectedy and adaptedV to hold said frame-work in expanded form.

n 3. In athletic apparatus, in combination, a supporting spring formed of sheet meta-l,

and resilient/'sheet metal means forming a substantial continuation of said spring and split into three or more substantially parallel lexible parts shaped and connected to permit their oppositeends to zbe drawn towardeach Y fr other and adapted upon` the ends of `said parts being drawn together to assume an approximatelyspherical form.

4. In athleticapparatus, in combination, V

a resilient frame-work of approximately spherical form, swinging supporting means comprising a spring connectedV to resist swinging thereof, and a substantially rigidv connection'between the adjacent end of said frame-work and said supporting means whereby upon said frame-work being struck the entire torce of the vblow tends to swing said supporting means.

5. In athletic apparatus, in'coinbination, a-

punching-bag, ar'iat spring secured to said bag andadapted to be' bent upon said bag? being struck, and supporting means for said flat spring coinprisinga portion freely ro-r tatablerabout a substantiallyfvertical pivot the axis ot' which is out of alignment with the axis of said bag,'whereup on, upon said bag being struck, said spring will automatically swing about said pivot and bend flat- `wise from the vforce ofthe blow.

6. In athletic apparatus, in combination, a resilient frame-work of an approximately spherical form, a flexible cover about said ltrame-work and'provided with an opening n at one end, and supporting means passing through said opening in said cover and se-V cured to said frame-work and `formed to permit said frame-work, upon being struck, to swing about an exterior axis spaced therefro i diate their ends to form a, iframe-work and a yielding covering over said frame-work.

7. In athleticV apparatus, in combination, a collapsible resilient framework, releasab-le means adapted to hold said-framework in expanded term, reinforcing means eX- tending between the intermediate portions Oli the members of said traine-work and adapted to permit the same to collapse, and a spring-actuated suspension having a rigid connection with said trame-work kadapted to permit same to swing about an exterior. axis spaced therefrom.

8. In athletic apparatus, in combination, a bagv comprising a tubular member split longitudinally to form a pluralityol1 ribs, saidribs being arched outwardly interme- 9. In athletic aajaratus in combination 2 .i a nag comprising a tubular member split longitudinally into two parts, each part oe- Aing split longitudinally between points adjacent its ends to 'form a plurality ot ribs, means securing said two parts together' adjacent their ends, said ribs being arched out wardly intermediate their ends to 'forni a frame-work, and a yielding covering over said frame-work.

l0. In athletic apparatus, in combination,

comprising a plurality ot resilient ribs connected together atl their ends and adapted to distend outwardly intermediate lsaid ends to .form a frame work, means within said frame work detachablyV connecting said ends tohold said ribs in distended position, and a yielding covering over said `frame work.v

Il. In athletic apparatus, Vin combination, a bag comprising a plurality of resilient ribs converging attheir ends to form two tubular end members and adapted. to be disin distended position, and a yielding covering about said trame work.

13. In athletic apparatus, in combination, amounting for punching bags and the like comprising a substantiallyv Vertical pivot about which the bag isfpivoted and freely movable, laterally offset from the vertical center line ont' the bag whereby, upon said bag4 being struck, itftends to. align the axis'of said pivot with the direction of the blow,

said pivot being substantially over the bag` with the bag in normal position. 1

lel. In athletic apparatus, in combination, apunching bag, means mounting said bag comprising a resilient yelongated member adapted toy bend transversely in response to blows against said bas and means for ad# Justing the resistance 0i, said member to bending. y Y

l5. in athletic apparatus, in combination,

a punching bag, meansmounting said. bagy comprising a llat spring member, and aj' support means connecting said spring member to said support the point of' connection being freely movable about an upright` axis, whereby said last means is adapted to cause said spring in response to a blow against said bag to, assume a position latwise with respect to the. direction of said blow.

16. In athletic apparatus, in combination,

a pair oit flat spring members secured tace to tace and adapted to be connected at one end to a support, said spring members being split'longitudinally adjacent their other ends and said split portions being arched outwardly to form a. frame work, anda yielding covering about said framework.

17. In athletic apparatus, in combination, a plurality of resilient ribs .converging at their ends to form solid, end members and;

adapted to be distended outwardlyqinten mediate said ends to ,form a frame work, a yieldingfcovering about .said frame work, one of said end members being .elongated and forming a flat. spring member, and means at the end of said flat spring member adapted for connection to a support. s

In `.testimony whereo'l', I have signed-my name tothis specificationv this 21st day of h/Iarch, 1924;., I

' ROBERT S. BLAIR. 

